President John Mahama has held high-level talks with UK Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband, accompanied by Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK, Sabah Zita Benson, as the two countries seek to expand trade, attract investment and strengthen bilateral cooperation.
The engagement follows an earlier meeting between Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa and Mr Miliband, during which issues of mutual interest included Ghana’s push for an exemption for its students and professionals from the UK’s International English Language Testing System (IELTS) requirement.
The discussions also come ahead of a year in which Ghana is expected to play a leading role in the African Union while the UK assumes the G20 presidency, creating opportunities for closer political engagement and coordination on shared international priorities.
Although the Presidency did not disclose details of the latest meeting, it said the discussions focused on strengthening trade and investment to advance the economic interests of both countries.
“The discussions centred on strengthening the historic partnership between Ghana and the United Kingdom, with particular focus on expanding trade and investment, promoting sustainable economic growth, and advancing shared global priorities,” the Presidency stated.
Mahama has reiterated his commitment to international partnerships that advance Ghana’s national interests while supporting multilateral cooperation.
His position echoes remarks at the Financial Times Africa Summit, where he emphasised Ghana’s foreign policy of maintaining friendly relations with all countries, regardless of geopolitical rivalries, describing Ghana as “A friend to all, an enemy of none”.
The approach reflects Ghana’s longstanding commitment to non-alignment, which seeks to preserve the country’s independence in foreign policy and its ability to engage with competing global powers based on national interest.
The UK remains a strategic partner in this effort, with cooperation extending beyond historical ties to trade, investment, education and maritime security.
During Mahama’s official visit to the UK in June 2026, the two countries signed a UK–Ghana Growth Partnership covering 2026 to 2028, building on deals worth up to £215 million announced at the Ghana–UK Investment Summit. The agreement focuses on attracting private investment, easing trade for Ghanaian businesses, strengthening infrastructure and industry, and expanding education and skills partnerships.
A key initiative under the partnership is a £101 million UK-supported project to establish the Takoradi Floating Dock, a commercial-scale ship repair and dry-docking facility expected to create up to 430 direct jobs and strengthen Ghana’s position as a regional maritime hub.
The latest engagement with Miliband therefore comes as both countries seek to build on existing agreements and translate their longstanding relationship into further economic opportunities and cooperation on shared international priorities.
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